The Somerset reporter., 1887-01-05
skowhegSH3 iBse.
CONDITION OF INDUSTRIES AND IMPoNE- |
MESTs FOR TIE YEAR.

MESTs FOR THE YEAR.
At the close of the year it is well to
look back and see what the year has done
for our town and whether we have adj
vanced or run astern. The year has
been one of unusual disturbance between
employer and employe throughout the
Nation and our town that never had any
such experience prior to November 1885
has had its share of tronble in this direc.
ton. We do not purpose to 20 into de
tail and simply allude to ii as one of the
elements that entered into the business OF
the year adversely. The difficulties at the
shoe factory not only effected the parties
Immediately interested bnt their influence
were felt to greater or less extent, by ali
lines of bvsiness particularly the dealer
in articles that enter into every day con
sumption. Moreover the confidence OF
the general public is shaken, there is a
feeling of uncertainty and apprehension
that takes possession of business men
especially men who have c lpital to invest
decidedly detrimental to business inter
ests and enterprises, when such disturb
ances prevail.
There is no doubt but our village would
have experienced decided building boom
but for this labor trouble in this town
and in the country. As it was we have
had fair amount of building for an OIL
year. Above 80 dwelling houses little
and large, were erected in the village
three OF them double tenements, some of
them nice stands of buildings and one of
them an elegant and expensive one The
Improvement in our stores and other
buildings have been quite an item. Ken
dali Brothers purchased the Priest store
rebuilt it throughout. The Holbrook <
Halves block was substantially built anew
with fine hall in the second story. +.
b. Heseton took the skating rink elephant
finished off two fine stores in front leaV-
ing hall enough in the rear for any ordi-
nary gathering. Coburn Hall block ten
ants were treated to plate glass fronts all
through and other repairs, making those
SuCIcS ulnODS llc OcSI OutSiuc VI OuI
largest cities. Eleven plate-glass fronts
were put into stores during the year. BY
far the Improvement that makes the most
marked change in our town is the work
done by the Maine Central Railroad Com
pany during the past summer in the build
ing of new Freight house, removing
the old and grading the grounds on the
North side and in removing an old build
ing erecting a new Engine house and put
ting in new Turn-tab on the South
side. These buildings with the elegant
new Passenger station and the extra train
promised by General Manager Tucker for
next year will make our village b. tier
place for business and more desirable as
/ a residence than ever before.
The town has made an important move
in the way of putting in IA sewerage sys-
TEN. A survey was made by compc-
tent engineer, plan drawn and the pipe
laid along a portion of Water street
where the deepest excavations were nee
essary This good start will probably Sc
cure the continuance of the project from
year to year until the town is provided
with a superior sewerage system.
The village corporation contracted
with the Skowhegan Electric light com
pany to light the streets and this must b,
put down as one of the improvements OF
the year, The lighting of stores anI
streets by Electric Arc lights has PROVED
Il success and Mr.. w. H. Shurtleff has put
in small Edison plant of the incandcs
cent light. His dynamo is adjusted tc
30 lights and he has half the number
and tile wlhes' plGtaNprk ia, e&gUu
tended in the spring. The Electric ap
pears to be the coming light in Skowhegar
where water power can be utilized to pro
duce the electricity.
Keenc Brothers have by cXcavating anC
laying another floor practically added an
other story to the shoe factory building
Weston and Brainard have made quite cX
tensive repairs the past year in their lum
Der mill and now have one of the best fo
manufacture of all kinds of lumber TO
the local trade on the river They hav,
put in new wheel, new gang edger, gans
lath machine, dragsaw and slabcarriagc
, Mr., Bailey has put in II new flume ant
otherwise repaired mill on South side
Robinson Brothers have put in a new i'm
proved palmer. II. S. Steward 4 Sol
have put in bone crushcr, and othe
manufacturers on either side have mad,
general repairs keeping their machinery
up to that point of economical efficiency
nd Improvement, necessary to keep VI
with the times.
Other than the shoe factory, our mann
featuring establishments have pursueo
the even tenor of their ways and have APP
parently done good business.
Notwithstanding the suspension of OPP
erations in the shoe factory our traders
have appeared to have fair business and
many of them report increased sales over
last year. There have been numerous
changes in proprietors and some acces-
SONS to The merchantile ranks The col
umns of the REPORTER have given these
changes as they have occurred and our
advertising columns have been well pat
ronized by our enterprising merchants, to
their advantage as well As ours, for which
however, the publisher takes this method
of extending his thanks and the compli-
ments of the season. "a Happy New
Year" to the enterprising, progressive,
substantial business men and women of
Skowhegan of all classes, whether manu-
facturcrs, merchants, arlizans, or OF
whatever occupation, employer and en-
ploye, with prosperity beyon' tha-5f
the year just closing, with hStrL and
happiness, is the benson ot-tLe Rrpop-
TER,